Mastercraftsman Paddock

Kiwi Group Three Winner for Mastercraftsman

Saint Emilion (5g Mastercraftsman x Roeario, by Pentire) was allowed a free rein at Ellerslie and his opposition paid the price with the gallant grey son taking the major prize in Tuesday’s feature.

A habitual winner, the hard as nails frontrunner was never headed on his way to victory in the Group III OMF Stakes.

“He got it all his own way and we thought that might happen,” said Andrew Forsman, who trains the gelding at Cambridge with Murray Baker.

“He’s a tough horse and they can take him on, but they do that at their peril. He just goes forward and he can kick.”

Under Matt Cameron, that’s exactly what Saint Emilion did and he revelled in his work at the head of the field. He held a strong gallop down the straight to record the 11th win of his 24 start career.

“He’s pretty much weighted out of handicaps so he’s effectively a weight-for-age horse now,” Forsman said.

Saint Emilion is the 34th stakes-winner for Mastercraftsman and is from Pentire mare Roseario, a half-sister to stakes-winner Raw Instinct.